Etihad Aviation Group announces new structure

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Aviation Group today announced a new organisational structure and operating model, effective immediately, to deliver on its mandate as it embarks on the next phase of its transformation. The reorganisation is the next step in ensuring the group is fit for purpose to prosper as a people-focused business driven by innovation, safety and sustainability, supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision for the future.

Robust
organisational structure to deliver transformation of the group

New
leadership team announced: promotion of Mohammad Al Bulooki to Chief Operating
Officer, appointment of Robin Kamark as Chief Commercial Officer, and Ibrahim
Nassir as Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, as
part of new seven-strong C-suite

Almost half of the
leadership team are UAE nationals

Under the new
structure, the group will be reorganised into seven business divisions –
Operations, Commercial, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), Human
Resources, Finance, Support Services and Transformation, led by a new executive
leadership team reporting to Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), Tony
Douglas, who also assumes responsibility for Etihad Airways.

His Excellency Mohamed
Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As we
approach our 15-year anniversary, the reorganisation and restructure of the
group and leadership team will help us lay the foundations for Etihad to
optimise its value as a world-leading group, streamline operations, and
capitalise on opportunities, allowing the business to focus on improving its
core operating performance.

“We recorded an improvement
in our operating results for 2017 and are confident that we are back on track
this year, strengthening our position group-wide after a period of
consolidation, bolstering our presence in key global markets, and continuing to
support Abu Dhabi's growth in the aviation, trade and tourism sectors.”

Peter Baumgartner will
now serve as the Senior Strategic Advisor to Tony Douglas as part of the
executive leadership team. Having led Etihad Airways as CEO since 2016, Mr.
Baumgartner will advise at group level on global partnerships and innovation.

Mohammad Al Bulooki,
Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, has been promoted to Chief
Operating Officer, and will be responsible for core areas including network
operations, flight and technical operations, fleet engineering, aviation
security and safety, as well the Etihad Airport Services entity which manages
ground and cargo handling, and catering. He is also responsible for the
airline’s pilot and cabin crew community.

Robin Kamark has been
appointed Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Kamark, who joined Etihad Aviation
Group in April 2017, will spearhead the overall commercial strategy of the
airline, including cargo, sales and marketing, revenue management, customer
service, network planning, and alliances. He is also charged with leading
Etihad Airways’ destination management arm, Hala. Ray Gammell will assume
responsibility for airline equity partners.

Ibrahim Nassir has been
appointed Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, and
is responsible for a wide range of support functions including, among others,
learning, organisational development, medical services, talent acquisition,
rewards, people services, and immigration. Mr. Nassir will also lead the
group’s Emiratisation programme.

General Counsel and
Company Secretary, Henning zur Hausen; Senior Vice President Government &
International Affairs, Ahmed Al Qubaisi; and Vice President Corporate Affairs,
Amina Taher, continue in their respective positions, also reporting to the
Group CEO.

Tony Douglas, Group
CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are now well equipped to deliver our
plans as a reinvigorated innovator brand, with an optimised and profitable
network, technologically advanced fleet, and a strengthened position as the
global airline of choice, run by a seasoned team of talented professionals. The
fact that almost half of our leadership team are UAE nationals reflects our
strong succession planning efforts and commitment to developing Emirati talent.

“We are already seeing
positive results even during this early phase of our transformation. The
eventual aim of this process is for Etihad to be in the best shape to ensure
its long-term sustainability, enabling it to meet the challenges of an aviation
industry in constant flux.

“Etihad is now
positioned to continue supporting the mandate of our shareholder, and the
growth and prominence of Abu Dhabi.”

Etihad’s transformation
programme has delivered measurable results to date, with the core airline
division recently reporting a 22 per cent improvement in core operating
performance for 2017, driven by improved revenues of US$ 6.1 billion and a 7.3
per cent reduction in unit costs.